We took a 3 hour trip by car and boarded "The Ginger" for an overnight cruise on beautiful Halong Bay. The boat was beautifully appointed with ensuites to each room, formal dining room, sun deck with bar and a hammer in each room in the event the ship sinks and you need to break out!

Our cabin had a king size double bed but when we realized there was a cabin with 2 separate beds it dawned on us they probably thought we were a gay couple given we obviously weren't husband and wife, siblings or honeymooners.

The sights of the bay were beautiful especially as the weather fined up. We visited a fishing village of about 500 people where they live on their boat or in homes built on pontoons - even the tiny school floats. The day finished with a swim and a beautiful 4 course meal.

Early rise for tai chi on the top deck and greatly relieved that we could still touch our toes as our girth area is feeling slightly fuller! We are both a little sensitive after the perky little massage therapists in Saigon kept saying "Bo Bo" which is roughly translated to COW!!

Before setting sail for port we took a tour of a massive underground limestone cave at Hang Sang Sot where after the very steep stair climb we wondered if some of the less fit were actually going to make it back.
The trip back to Hanoi saw our driver pulled over and booked by the police - for what we are not really sure - but they fined him $40 dollars. Probably, not a lot of money to westerners but the equivalent of half his weeks wages, if not more. It seems the police run their own racket here with fine money going to the booking officer!

We leave for Hoi An in the morning as we head south.